Paper Manufacturing and Paper Shortages in the South, 1861-1865 Vicki Betts University of Texas at Tyler, [email protected]
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University of Texas at Tyler Scholar Works at UT Tyler Special Topics Civil War Newspapers 2016 Paper Manufacturing and Paper Shortages in the South, 1861-1865 Vicki Betts University of Texas at Tyler, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.uttyler.edu/cw_newstopics Recommended Citation Betts, ickV i, "Paper Manufacturing and Paper Shortages in the South, 1861-1865" (2016). Special Topics. Paper 18. http://hdl.handle.net/10950/790 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Civil War Newspapers at Scholar Works at UT Tyler. It has been accepted for inclusion in Special Topics by an authorized administrator of Scholar Works at UT Tyler. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Paper Manufacturing and Paper Shortages in the South, 1861-1865 ATHENS [GA] SOUTHERN WATCHMAN, May 1, 1861, p. 2, c. 1 Burning of the Pioneer Paper Mill. The paper mill three and a half miles from this place was totally consumed by fire on Wednesday morning last, together with all the paper and stock on hand. The origin of the fire, we believe, is considered doubtful. It may have been accidental, or it may have been the work of an incendiary. The loss is estimated at $16,000. There was no insurance. We believe it is the intention of the stockholders to rebuild--we hope so, at all events, as it is a great convenience to us to have our paper manufactured at home. BELLVILLE [TX] COUNTRYMAN, June 12, 1861, p. 2, c. 1 We are under the necessity of issuing but a half sheet this week. It is well to recollect that paper is very scarce, and that unless the blockade is raised before long, many newspapers will have to suspend for want of the article, as we understand there is none or very little for sale in Houston or Galveston. The Countryman will be as tenacious of life as any of them. BELLVILLE [TX] COUNTRYMAN, June 19, 1861, p. 2, c. 1 The editor of the Brenham Enquirer learned in Galveston, that paper was expected to arrive from England, in November next, as orders for that article had been forwarded. The Enquirer will be issued on a half sheet until Christmas. AUGUSTA [GA] DAILY CHRONICLE & SENTINEL, July 2, 1861, p. 2, c. 1 Advance in Rates of Subscription. The undersigned are reluctantly constrained to increase the subscription price of their respective papers. This necessity arises from the diminished income of their offices, growing out of the stagnation of business generally, while the expenses are largely increased and cannot be curtailed without injustice to our readers. Advertising, ordinarily so large a portion of a newspaper revenue, is almost wholly suspended and will continue so during the war, while the price of paper has largely increased, and our telegraphic expenses are nearly trebled. ... From the 1st day of July our terms of subscription will be-- For the Daily One Year - - $ 8 00 " " Six Months - 4 00 " " Three Months - 2 00 " " One Month - 1 00 For Tri-Weekly One Year - - 5 00 " " Six Months - 2 50 " " Three Months - 1 50 The Weekly will be as heretofore, for one year $2 00. All orders for subscription must be accompanied with the Cash. James Gardner, Proprietor Constitutionalist Wm. S. Jones, Proprietor Chronicle & Sentinel. AUGUSTA [GA] DAILY CHRONICLE & SENTINEL, July 2, 1861, p. 1, c. 2 North Carolina Paper Forest Manufacturing Company, Forestville, N. C. Manufacturer of Superior Book and Newspaper, &c., &c. Respectfully solicit Southern dealers to send them orders. Samples and prices will be sent (postage paid) by applying to W. B. Reid, Supt.my16-1m DALLAS HERALD, July 10, 1861, p. 1, c. 3 As printing paper is scarce—very scarce—and as there are about seventy or eighty newspapers in this State, which use from twenty to fifty quires per week, and merchants and others who use wrapping paper to a considerable extent, would it not pay to establish a paper mill at Houston or Galveston?—Colorado Citizen. We answer yes. We think several paper mills could be well sustained in our State, and we do hope that some one will make a start pretty soon. BELLVILLE [TX] COUNTRYMAN, July 17, 1861, p. 2, c. 2 We copy the following from the Galveston Civilian. It is very appropriate at this time: The Christian Advocate appears on a half sheet, though without proportionate diminution of interesting reading matter. The scarcity of paper and of paying subscribers begins to tell on the newspaper business, and we fear that many papers will not stop the curtailing process at a half sheet. The Richmond Reporter gives its present issue the name of the Half Loaf, though we doubt not the ample crops of Fort Bend county will keep the publishers fully supplied with the staff of life. No people appreciate newspapers more highly than the citizens of Texas; and we trust that they will not neglect to sustain the press in the present crisis. Good names on a list of subscribers will not do this. It requires money, or something that will sustain life. Country publishers can use much of the produce of the farm and workshop in lieu of money; and subscribers should make it a point to contribute such aid as is in their power, without waiting for that common bore, the dun, alike unpleasant to those who give and those who receive it. AUSTIN STATE GAZETTE, July 22, 1861, p. 4, c. 5 Contemplated Paper Mill.—As so many questions have been asked us, recently, in regard to the new enterprise—a paper-mill—we will give a faint outline of its absolute necessity. There is consumed, in Louisiana, in the course of one year, paper to an almost incredible amount, the most of which has, hitherto, come from the north—all of it outside of our own State; but all supplies are now cut off from the north, as the article is declared contraband of war. There are in the Confederacy, some fifteen paper mills that produce, probably, 75,000 pounds daily, while the consumption is rated at 150,000 pounds daily, or just double the supply. Now, if this enterprise is suffered to fall through, from lack of capital, there is great reason to apprehend an entire stoppage of newspaper publishing in this and other Southern States, and, also, great inconvenience will result from the want of even ordinary wrapping paper. There is an actual cash market now existing for as much paper as a mill can produce in four months, and the business, besides being cash, is also very profitable. We are glad to learn that at least two-thirds of the stock is already taken.—True Delta. DALLAS HERALD, July 31, 1861, p. 1, c. 8 The Indianola Courier has been compelled to suspend its issue until the blockade is raised or paper mills are established in Texas. AUGUSTA [GA] DAILY CHRONICLE & SENTINEL, August 8, 1861, p. 3, c. 1 Rags.--Save all your rags--cotton, flax, hemp, &c.--and send them to market, where you can realize three cents a pound. The South wears out more such goods than two such Norths, and yet the North saves double the quantity of rags for making paper. Let this be changed hereafter. Save the rags to make paper, and thereby save money. BELLVILLE [TX] COUNTRYMAN, August 21, 1861, p. 2, c. 1 Our War Size.—Until the prospect of getting more paper shall become better, the Countryman will be published at its present size. We are enabled by this plan to put in more matter than on a half-sheet, and have less margin. BELLVILLE [TX] COUNTRYMAN, August 28, 1861, p. 3, c. 1 The Corpus Christi Ranchero extra, of the 10th inst., says a large number of wagons from Bastrop arrived there for salt, and were loaded without delay. The supply is inexhaustible, and Corpus is bound to enjoy an immense trade. The Ranchero says Clark is largely ahead in that district for Governor. The publication of the Ranchero is suspended for want of paper. AUSTIN STATE GAZETTE, September 7, 1861, p. 2, c. 2 Scarcity of Printing Paper.—Our exchanges, with, we believe, only two exceptions, come to us, much curtailed of their late fair proportions. The exceptions are the Marshall Republican and the Clarksville Standard. These are like giants among Liliputians and are received by us with a feeling of wonder bordering upon awe; while our editorial pride revolts at the necessity of attempting to get up a readable weekly paper, in these stirring times, on a half sheet. O, lucky, happy, Standard and Republican. How we sigh for such ample columns as crowd your broad sheets! AUSTIN STATE GAZETTE, September 7, 1861, p. 2, c. 2 The Quitman Herald, published by Sparks & Height, formerly one of the most belligerent, out-spoken States Rights papers in the State, died on the 14th ult. Cause—lack of health, lack of paper, lack of money, &c. Since the Herald was shorn of its Height by the war fever, the light of its Sparks has been growing dim. It did not even give us the vote of Wood county, before its demise. Can't one of its surviving neighbors in Upshur, Smith or Kaufman, supply the want for Wood and Van Zandt? BELLVILLE [TX] COUNTRYMAN, September 11, 1861, p. 2, c. 1 The Lagrange True Issue says that the States Rights Democrat of that place has indefinitely suspended. We learn that the Brenham Enquirer has suspended for want of paper, and the Ranger has been removed to Washington.